[grania]

...how much is because Amazon and others are eating Staples lunch?

I like going to stores for a few hours each week to shop, but not lately. The problem is inventory. There's usually too much stale merchandise and too many best sellers that are out of stock.

Look at the stores now. They're stocking spring clothes and gardening things, when people need to replace winter stuff that's wearing out. It's weird that in the age of technology that retail is less responsible to current situations.

[Mr. Jeeves]

They're stocking spring clothes and gardening things, when people need to replace winter stuff that's wearing out. It's weird that in the age of technology that retail is less responsible to current situations.

This is the age of just-in-time supply chain management. Decades ago, they might have simply brought out some extra winter stuff from a warehouse to react to unexpected weather conditions. Now, the warehouse is closed, the workers laid off, the bonuses for the executives pocketed, the spring stuff is shipping from overseas just as they planned on needing it...and due to an inaccurate long-term weather forecast they can't get more winter items until next fall. :)

[Nowhere Man]

Look at the stores now. They're stocking spring clothes and gardening things, when people need to replace winter stuff that's wearing out. It's weird that in the age of technology that retail is less responsible to current situations.

Yeah, I work in a department store myself and we already have spring and summer inventory out but I've had many customers who come to me and still need winter items.